diy vs buy
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[Photographs: Molly Sheridan]

Note: If you purchase your peanuts raw, toss them with a small amount of oil and bake on a sheet pan in a 350°F oven, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to brown.

A true advantage to making your own nut butters—beyond health and safety—is the opportunity for variation. Mix and match the nuts you use. You can also use other oils, or none at all. Some nuts, like macadamia, have an oil content high enough that you won't even need to add any extra when turning them into butters.

Speaking of oils, in my experience, using a small amount of coconut oil and then transferring the finished product to the refrigerator immediately results in a butter that holds together without getting oily on top or dry on the bottom. I like its texture as well, because it spreads smoothly when totally cold, but isn't runny on the knife. Though the oil is not completely neutral, I don't find that it overwhelms the taste of the nuts.

About the author: Molly Sheridan feels about mason jars the way most women feel about shoes. A music journalist by day, she traces her love of weekend DIY kitchen projects back to the science experiments she ran with her dad as a kid. She is the author of Wonderland Kitchen and tweetledees @WonderlandK.

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Yield: about 2 cups
Active time: 15 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces roasted unsalted peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • Honey, agave, or other sweetener to taste (optional)

Procedures

  1. Place nuts, oil, salt, and sweetener (if using) in bowl of food processor. Process until nuts break down, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.

  2. Continue to process until peanut butter reaches desired smoothness.

  3. Transfer to a clean seal-able container and allow to cool. Peanut butter should firm as it cools. Store covered with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator to prevent separation for up to 3 weeks.